Longhorns defense steps up with huge game after week of harsh criticism

Ever since the loss to No. 10 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, Texas has been under an immense amount of scrutiny, even moreso than the Longhorns normally endure.

The defense, which has allowed 130 points in the last three games, has taken the brunt of that criticism, so much so that senior safety Kenny Vaccaro felt like UT had lost every game this season even though their record is one of the tops in the Big 12 Conference.

Perhaps after Saturday’s effort in a 31-22 victory over No. 18 Texas Tech, the fan base for the 23rd-ranked Longhorns will calm down just a bit.

Vaccarro and the UT defense gave up 441 yards to Texas Tech, but continually kept the Red Raiders out of the end zone, forcing three Ryan Bustin field goals and another one that was blocked late in the game that sealed the win for the Longhorns (7-2, 4-2 in Big 12)

“It’s just a lot of guys making plays,” Vaccaro said. “A lot of open-field tackling and that’s what you have to do against the spread offense. It’s guys making plays for us.”

Vaccaro, sophomore linebacker Steve Edmond and junior cornerback Carrington Byndom made a lot of them for UT.

Edmond led the way with eight tackles, and his pass breakup on third-and-3 early in the fourth quarter stunted Tech’s momentum and allowed the Longhorns to seal the win on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mike Davis, his third of the game.

Byndom had five tackles, broke up a two-point conversion pass that kept Tech (6-3, 3-3) from tying the game and blocked a late field goal that maintained UT’s two-possession lead. It also allowed Texas to run out the last 5:15 of the game.

But the biggest factor was keeping the Red Raiders out of the end zone, period, and forcing field goals by limiting big plays. Tech’s longest pass from scrimmage was 24 yards and the longest run was 25, and the Longhorns held Tech to 112 rushing yards on the day.

“That’s Big 12 defense,” said Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, who has also taken a fair share of the recent criticism. “If you don’t give up big plays, the worst that happens to you is the ball is in the red zone. That’s where the battle is at. You find a way to make plays when the yards are toughest to make. If you’re kicking field goals in the Big 12, it’s hard to win a football game.”

The UT offense certainly did its share, establishing its running game early and hitting the big plays to Davis, who had a touchdown grab of 75 yards in the second quarter on the first play after Tech had closed to within 14-10. He also had a 54-yarder in the first quarter that set up what would prove to be the go-ahead touchdown.

Texas quarterback David Ash, himself facing adversity after being pulled in last week’s 21-17 win over Kansas, was extremely accurate to start the game, hitting on 7 of his first 8 passes and finishing the game 11 of 19 for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

“I got a sense that David was a little bit frustrated about last week,” Texas head coach Mack Brown said. “But he played tonight like he has just about the whole year. He’s had two ballgames that were subpar. But the rest of them he’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the country.”

Texas’ running game was effective as well. Freshman Johnathan Gray, the son of James Gray, Tech’s second-leading rusher in school history, had a solid debut on his father’s former home field, rushing for 108 yards and catching two passes for 41 yards.

“I’m sure the whole family’s proud of him today.”

And maybe, just maybe, the Longhorns fan base will take it easy on them for the ensuing week considering all involved feel it’s the most complete game they’ve played all season.

“It’s definitely a great feeling,” senior defensive end Alex Okafor said. “I’m not going to disregard some of the other wins this season but this one was sweet, especially for the seniors, never losing to Tech. That’s one of the few things we can say about this class. It was a great feeling.”

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I am the last to say browns a great off. coordinator but he is only call the plays tubby allows. brown in the past before tubby almost never ran and almost never 1 and 30. Now i know why brown wanted to leave. This all TUBBY just like he p[played the spread in auburn theres no deference in style. This tubby version of the spread and fg thats all tubby

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